A person named Abhishek Gupta complained the Uttar Pradesh Governor Ram Naik about this fact.

Governor Naik has written a letter on April 30, 2018 to the Chief Minister Adityanath and directed him to take necessary action of this case.

Naik told Yogi in his letter, “Mr Abhishek Gupta, resident of 24, Prakash Lok, Indira Nagar, Lucknow has informed me, through a letter dated April 18, 2018 on email, that he proposed to set up petrol pump sanctioned by Essar Oil Limited in Resso village of Sandila tehsil, Hardoi. As the main road to connect the petrol pump is narrow, a representation given to provide necessary land is pending at the level of principal secretary to chief minister.”

The governor also wrote in his letter, “Mr Gupta says that the principal secretary to chief minister, S P Goel, is demanding Rs 25 lakh to provide land for broadening of the main road and he is not able to set up the petrol pump due to delay in decision on the representation. I am sending Mr Abhishek Gupta’s letter to you for appropriate action,”

While Shashi Prakash Goyal rubbished the allegations and said, “This is ridiculous. I received the file only after the governor’s letter was received. I recused myself, did not deal with the case and informed the the same to the CM and I am not aware of any decision taken on the issue.”

Goyal, a 1989-batch IAS officer of UP cadre who returned from central posting in March 2017, was made the new principal secretary to the CM.